Gemotions

"There's been a mix-up," the financial aid officer had said, her voice smooth and unruffled. Sarah felt a jolt of alarm. She sat stiffly in her chair, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The university building, typically a symbol of opportunity, now seemed cold and impersonal. She listened, her mind reeling.

As the officer explained the situation, a coldness spread through her. The certainty she had about her place at school began to crumble. She looked at her hands, surprised to see they were trembling slightly. A sense of unease, like a shadow, crept into her heart.